The UK Environment Agency has tonight increased the number of flood alerts from 63 to 78 as a developing band of heavy rain approaches.
The Met Office has also tonight issued severe weather warnings for heavy rain for North West England, Wales, Strathclyde, Central, Tayside and Fife, Yorkshire & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar, SW Scotland, Lothian & Borders and North East England.
Forecasters at the Met Office say they are monitoring the development of a slow-moving weather front, which could produce “significant” amounts of rain over the weekend.
A Met Office early warning has been issued for Cumbria for heavy rain, especially across the highest fells. Met Office advisories have also been issued for parts of Wales, Northern Ireland and much of southern and western Scotland.
Steve Willington, Met Office Chief Forecaster said: "Unsettled conditions will bring heavy and persistent rain through Saturday and into Sunday. The high ground of North West Wales and more particularly parts of Cumbria are likely to see the heaviest rainfall as the rain lingers across these areas into Sunday morning."
An Environment Agency spokesperson added: “With the further rain forecast by the Met Office over the weekend, and the ground approaching saturation point, further flood alerts and flood warnings are likely to be issued.
“These may remain in place over the weekend and into next week. The heavy rainfall expected in Cumbria may result in some flooding of roads and some properties, although severe flooding like November 2009 is not anticipated.
“Environment Agency staff are on 24 hour alert and teams are monitoring river levels, checking flood defences and clearing river blockages. Teams are also deploying flood barriers at Upton-On-Severn as a precautionary measure.”
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